The Hindu Business Line : ELS cotton crop from Karnataka likely to be lower

Coimbatore, Aug. 21 The extra long staple (ELS) cotton crop from Karnataka, popular for the ELS variety DCH-32, is expected to be lower during 2007-08 season.

According to a South India Cotton Association (SICA) report, the ELS cotton crop from Karnataka in the new season is estimated to be below 50,000 bales (170 kg per bale). The report pointed out that the cotton lint prices have, during the last fortnight, softened with the forecasts of new crop (for 2007-08 season) from the Cotton Advisory Board pointing to a higher cotton production. The 2007-08 cotton is estimated to be over 300 lakh bales.

The adoption of Bt cotton by farmers across the country has boosted crop volume and quality of the fibre which go to creating more export opportunity. The second round of rains had benefited the crop, except in Karnataka where partial damage has been reported due to excess rains. Citing China’s July cotton production and area survey, the SICA report said both crop area and production in China during this year would be up. China’s crop area in 2007 has gone up to 81.70 million mu from 79.97 million mu (one mu is equal to 1/15 hectare) in 2006 and its production is to touch 7.08 million tonnes from last year’s 6.94 million tonnes.